Sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular a tennis shoe, with an outsole shell made of an elastically deformable material. In accordance with the invention, the outsole shell is divided into a heel region, a forefoot region and a connecting region connecting these two regions, wherein an energy absorption element is integrated in the heel region.

This invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe, with an outsole shell made of an elastically deformable material.

Such sports shoes usually consist of a shoe upper which is connected with the outsole. The outsole is molded as an elastic outsole shell. Especially in use of a sports shoe as tennis shoe, the same is exposed to high loads which are due to the friction between shoe and tennis court surface.

In this respect, it has become known for example from AT 395516 B to provide tennis shoes with especially provided toe protection caps which have an asymmetrically arranged protrusion extending substantially parallel to the outsole. This protrusion is dimensioned such that even under extreme loads of the cap the same does not directly drag along the ground, but merely the protective strip is exposed to abrasion. The fact that the protective strip is sloping to the outside of the shoe results in improved braking properties.

EP 0 552 994 B1 deals with the fact that a generic sports shoe should serve to absorb shocks. For this purpose, the shoe includes an upper and a lower plate in the heel region, which plates are movable relative to each other, with the movement against each other being damped by torsion springs. However, integrating the necessary plates movable against each other in the outsole region is not unproblematic. It leads to a deterioration of the bending elasticity of the outsole shell.

It is the object of the present invention to develop a sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe, such that it easily withstands extreme loads during its use and beside damping vibrations during use it improves the running properties.

In accordance with the invention, this object is solved by a generic sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe with an outsole shell made of an elastically deformable material, in that the outsole shell is divided into a heel region, a forefoot region and a connecting region connecting these two regions, wherein an energy absorption element is integrated in the heel region.

During use of the sports shoe, the energy absorption element in the heel region takes up the energy received via the heel, absorbs the same and distributes the energy over the entire foot region by transmitting the energy via the connecting region to the forefoot region.

Preferred aspects of the invention can be taken from the sub-claims following the main claim.

Accordingly, the energy absorption element can be integrated in the middle heel region. In this way, the kinetic energy acting on the heel advantageously can be taken up centrally.

Preferably, the energy absorption element is formed of a hat-shaped elastic element, whose everted region is reinforced by molded lamellae distributed around the periphery. This shape provides for taking up and transmitting the kinetic energy from all directions in space, without having a constructive preference for one direction in space.

The connecting region between the heel region and the forefoot region advantageously consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastics with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining outsole shell material. This three-dimensionality can be achieved in that the molded part is formed of rib-like three-dimensional protrusions which extend from a central middle part. In so far, this three-dimensional molded part resembles the construction of the human chest. It is capable of transmitting the energy taken up when damping vibrations in the heel region to the forefoot region.

Advantageously, the heel region and the forefoot region have one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles. These outsole profiles can be selected depending on the surfacing. Thus, it can be a typical outsole profile for a clay court or for a hard floor.

Advantageously, the middle region of the forefoot region is rounded on its inwardly facing lateral edge. In this way, slipping sideways during the game is positively influenced.

Particularly advantageously, edge regions of a comparatively harder plastic material or rubber are formed, i.e. inserted as separate part, at the outer lateral edge of the forefoot region. This lateral insert leads to a substantially improved lateral stability and thereby provides for fast changes in direction of the player being transmitted by a direct transmission of the force from the shoe to the underground.

Particularly advantageously, the heel region is connected with the forefoot region via the connecting region such that the energy taken up via the energy absorption element can be transmitted to the forefoot region, so that this energy can be converted into a forward movement.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention can be taken from an embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1: shows various views of an outsole shell according to one embodiment of the sports shoe of the invention,

FIG. 2: shows a detailed representation of the energy absorption element as it is used in the heel region of the sports shoe as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3: shows two representations of a detail in the forefoot region of the outsole shell as shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4: shows a representation of the connecting region in the outsole shell as shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, an outsole shell for a sports shoe, in particular a tennis shoe, which generally is designated with the reference numeral 10, is shown in three views. While the bottom view is shown in the middle, the side views each are shown at the top and at the bottom. As can be taken from FIG. 1, the outsole shell 10 is formed in a three-dimensional shell-shaped manner, wherein it in particular also covers the front toe region. In accordance with the present invention, the outsole shell 10 is divided into three regions: the heel region 12, the forefoot region 16 and the connecting region 14 connecting these two regions.

In general, the outsole shell is made of an elastically deformable material.

In the heel region, an energy absorption element 18 is integrated, whose structure is illustrated in the representation of FIG. 2. As can be taken from FIG. 2, the same consists of a hat-shaped elastic element 20 with a kind of brim 22, wherein on the outside above the brim 22 lamellae 24 are molded on the everted region of the hat-shaped element 20 equally distributed around the periphery.

In the event of a corresponding shock on the heel region 12 while running with the sports shoe 10, the hat-shaped element is compressed, wherein it uniformly releases the deformation energy absorbed into the heel region, from where it is transmitted via the connecting region 14 to the forefoot region.

As illustrated particularly clearly in FIG. 1, the connecting region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastics, which as compared to the usual outsole shell material has a greater rigidity. This three-dimensional molded part has the shape of ribs which extend from a middle central part. As can be taken from FIG. 1, this three-dimensional molded part extends from the sole into the lateral regions, where the individual ribs are joined again by means of a connecting web. The connecting region 4 takes up the damped kinetic energy from the heel region 12 and distributes the same to the remaining shoe region, in particular to the forefoot region 16, so that this connecting region can also be referred to as force bridge. The connecting region 14 includes a number of apertures 26 which have an additional ventilation function and can separate the inner shoe region from the surroundings only via an air-permeable mesh (cf. also FIG. 4).

The shape of the forefoot region can be taken from FIGS. 1 and 3. Here, the outsole shell is pulled up in the region of the toes, so that here a corresponding protection is provided for the toes.

In the middle region of the forefoot region 16, the inwardly facing lateral edge 28 is rounded, to provide for easier slipping on the underground while playing. On the opposed outer surface, on the other hand, an edge reinforcement is provided by a corresponding inserted part for improvement of the lateral stability, as can clearly be taken in particular from FIG. 3. This reinforcing part 30 is made of a plastic material or rubber with comparatively greater hardness, which in particular also provides for fast changes in direction, as it transmits the lateral forces produced by the player pushing up from the ground to the underground in a better and more direct way.

As shown in the Figures, both the heel region 12 and the forefoot region 16 have profile surfaces in the outsole shell which are adapted to the court surface. In the present embodiment, the same are shown only by way of example and can be formed differently depending on the underground.

To illustrate the functionality of the energy absorption element 18, an inspection window 32 of transparent plastic material is formed laterally in the heel region 12 in the outsole shell 10 (cf. FIG. 1). 

1. A sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe, with an outsole shell made of an elastically deformable material, wherein the outsole shell is divided into a heel region, a forefoot region and a connecting region connecting these two regions, and an energy absorption element is integrated in the heel region.
 2. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorption element is integrated in the middle heel region.
 3. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorption element consists of a hat-shaped elastic element whose everted region is reinforced by molded lamellae distributed around the periphery.
 4. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the connecting region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining outsole shell material.
 5. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 6. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the middle region of the forefoot region is rounded on its inwardly facing lateral edge.
 7. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein at the outer lateral edge of the forefoot region an edge region of a comparatively harder plastic material is inserted.
 8. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the heel region is connected with the forefoot region via the connecting region such that the energy taken up via the energy absorption element can be transmitted to the forefoot region.
 9. The sports shoe according to claim 2, wherein the energy absorption element consists of a hat-shaped elastic element whose everted region is reinforced by molded lamellae distributed around the periphery.
 10. The sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the connecting region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining outsole shell material.
 11. The sports shoe according to claim 3, wherein the connecting region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining outsole shell material.
 12. The sports shoe according to claim 2, wherein the connecting region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining outsole shell material.
 13. The sports shoe according to claim 12, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 14. The sports shoe according to claim 11, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 15. The sports shoe according to claim 10, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 16. The sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 17. The sports shoe according to claim 4, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 18. The sports shoe according to claim 3, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 19. The sports shoe according to claim 2, wherein the heel region and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
 20. The sports shoe according to claim 15, wherein the middle region of the forefoot region is rounded on its inwardly facing lateral edge. 